-drools- I'm typing this listening to Sting's 'Desert Rose'. . .-drools again- I love that song. It applies to a lot of stuff in this fic. Muhahaha. Anyway. . .

I shall reply to my lovely reviewers after the chapter so I can laugh and stuff ~.^ Oh yes. . .

-BULLETIN!-

Everyone raised their hands for two updates week, which is a good thing. But now this little thing called junior year has interrupted, and the fact that I have minor (-cough-) writer's block. :P I don't want to update too ahead of myself. . .so here's what I'm gonna do: I shall update twice a week every other week!

I have a solution to everything ;D So basically, there will always be an update on Friday, and every other week a new chapter will go up on Tuesday. YEEHAW! That starts THIS Tuesday, mind you ;D

Okay. . .on to the chapter! Some of you may be quite surprised. . .muhaha.

~Chapter Eighteen~

I gasped and sat up, grains of sand flying everywhere. "Kitsune?!" Was he. . .evolving?

'Duh', I thought, mentally slapping myself.

Kit was changing shape. His ears grew a bit bigger, if that was even possible. Little wisps of hair grew from the sides of his face, which was becoming more refined. He grew taller and leaner, losing the Eevee fluff from around his neck. His tail grew slim, and split into two.

Before he stopped glowing, a red light appeared out of nowhere and hit him in the forehead. After a few seconds, the red light disappeared, and Kitsune stopped glowing to reveal his new form.

I gasped again. "Ki. . .Kitsune?" I choked.

"Essssspeon," he replied.

"Kit!" I cried happily, opening my arms, and he jumped into them. "I don't believe it! You're an Espeon!"

"'Peon!" he cried happily, rubbing his head against my chin.

I stroked his now smooth, lavender fur. "Oh Kitsune," I murmured. I was still trying to get it in my head that Kitsune was no longer an Eevee, but a beautiful, powerful Espeon.

"That's. . .odd," Darrell suddenly said. I looked up to see him frowning at Kitsune.

"What's odd?"

He looked up at the sky. "He's been coming out here at night with you, and running around with Umbreon. You think he would've evolved into that, especially since it's nighttime right now."

I looked at Darrell, then back at Kitsune. "I didn't think of that." I shrugged. "I don't really care, though," I added, giving Kitsune another squeeze. "He's still my little Kit! Oh man, wait until Steve and Ivy see you!"

"'Peon," Kit repeated, licking my nose and then running off again to chase Umbreon.

Darrell was still frowning at my new Espeon. "What are you going to tell your parents?"

I blinked. "I didn't think of that either," I sighed. "Hmm. . .I guess I'll just say he evolved during the night or something. . .I don't know. They never pay attention to Kit anyway."

"They should," he said even more quietly. "He's a very special Pokemon."

I looked over at Darrell. I had never heard him say anything like that before---he tends to stay away from saying things that are supposed to come from your heart.

I smiled and looked back at the ocean. "Yeah, he is. MAN, I can't get over this! What a nice surprise to show to Steve and Ivy."

"What do you plan on doing with them?" Darrell suddenly asked.

I looked at him in surprise again. Whenever I started talking about my friends, he just shut up and put up with it. I didn't like talking about them in front of him since, well, he always claimed he was so alone. . .but really, I couldn't help it. He never asked much about them, though.

"I don't have much planned," I shrugged. "I just want it to be like old times. Karaoke, me showing off jumping on Joker, whacking Steve with pillows." I grinned at my last comment. "And I want them to meet you."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah." I grinned wider. "You're my only good friend here. Hey, Johto meets Hoenn," I laughed.

Darrell just shrugged. "Karaoke? You sing?"

"Well I like to, but Steve's always teasing me about my voice. Hey, I know my voice is awful, but that's why I do it. I like to torture him. It's a wonder we're best friends."

"People tease when they care," Darrell said in his same, deep voice. He finally looked at me. "So you and Steve must care about each other an awful lot."

For some reason, I suddenly felt a blush creeping up my cheeks. I released my hair from its ponytail and let it fall in front of my face to hide it. Why did I blush when Darrell said that? And why did I care about hiding it, anyway?

Kitsune suddenly trotted up to me and waved his whiskers in my face.

"What?" I asked. I looked at my watch. "Ack! We've been here way too long. We gotta get home!"

I jumped up, holding Kitsune. Darrell slowly stood up too, and returned Absol and Umbreon to their Pokeballs, and put them in the pocket of his trench coat.

"So when are your friends coming?" he asked.

"Friday morning," I answered. "They're taking the ferry tomorrow night."

Darrell totally surprised me by taking his hands out of his pockets (where they usually were) and putting them on my shoulders. My heart pounded a little louder.

"Is it okay if I meet them with you?"

"Uh, uh. . ." I stuttered. I gave myself another mental slap and composed myself. "Yeah, sure," I smiled. "I'll be around on the docks."

"Okay." He took his hands off my shoulders and shoved them back in his pockets. "See you then."

I smiled again in reply and took off for home. Kitsune was wiggling around in my arms, and it was a little harder to keep him still since, well, he was an Espeon now.

"So many surprises tonight," I whispered as I approached the back door to my house, which I always unlocked before I left so I could get back in. I gently put Kitsune down and gingerly touched my shoulder. "So many nice surprises."

~*~

I woke up on Friday at seven in the morning, even though we had a day off. I guess the prospect of me seeing my best friends after so long just excited me too much.

"EEEE!" I squealed, jumping out of bed and throwing on some clothes. I quickly brushed my hair and threw it into a messy braid, and skipped over to the kitchen for breakfast. The ferry wasn't set to arrive until nine, but I wanted to be ready.

Mom and Dad were up already, of course, them having to feed all the Pokemon. I set out Kitsune's breakfast, and to my surprise, a second after I put his bowl down, he Teleported to it from my room.

"Wow!" I cried, grabbing a box of cereal. "You rock, Kitsune!"

"Ooonn," he replied with mouth full of PokeChow.

I poured myself a big bowl of cereal, but only ate two bites before I jumped up and ran outside. I was totally restless. Was it nine yet?

I glanced at the digital numbers on the microwave that read seven-oh-three.

"Arrrrguh," I muttered. I decided to go out and ride Joker for awhile. He wouldn't mind eating breakfast a little later.

"Lindsey!" Mom cried from the feed room when she saw me. "What are you doing up so early?"

"I'm sooooo excited!" I squealed. "It feels like I haven't seen Ivy and Steve in years!"

Mom smiled. "And to think I was looking forward to a nice, quiet weekend," she joked. "I set up three cots in the rec room. I figured you wouldn't want to waste a second with them."

I smiled back. "Thanks Mom!" And I really was thankful. The rec room had a TV, several game systems, and my beloved karaoke machine.

I got out Joker's tack and lugged it to his stall. He was busy munching on hay, and gave me a Look as I slipped the halter over his head.

"Oh come on," I pleaded. "Just for an hour or two, pleeeeease?"

Joker snorted, but stopped chewing and allowed me to tack him up. I swung on and cantered around the property, and up to a little off-section where Mom had set up a course of jumps. I sped Joker through them, and despite being all pissed about me interrupting his precious hay-eating time, he jumped beautifully.

Well, he did, but I felt really awkward and unbalanced. "Jo," I sighed, walking him around. "I think I'm getting too big for you. We gotta try and help you evolve."

Joker responded by pinning his ears back. I think he likes being a Ponyta---he can get away with stuff more easily.

I suddenly heard Mom shriek. I trotted Joker over to her. "Mom, what is it?" I gasped.

She pointed at a lavender blob that had just used what looked like Confusion on a defenseless wild Wurmple. The bug Pokemon was slamming its head into the fence in an attempt to escape.

"Kitsune!" I cried. "You learned a new attack already?"

Mom looked at me, then back at Kit. "Kitsune?" she asked, looking very confused. "He. . .evolved?"

"Yeah," I grinned. "Last night on---" I stopped myself just in time. I was about to say 'on the beach.'

"On. . .er. . .eh, in my room, I guess," I laughed nervously. "Yeah, I woke up and he was like that. Weird, huh?"

"Yeah. . ." Mom trailed off, throwing the Wurmple out. It proceeded to turn around and slam into the fence again, thinking it was still trapped.

I looked at my watch, and saw there was only a half an hour until nine, and grinned.

"Hey Mom, the ferry's supposed to arrive soon!" I cried, dismounting on Joker. "Can you pleeeease put Joker away for me? I want to get there in time to see them."

"Sure," Mom sighed, taking the reins. I threw my helmet off and ran off the property, Kitsune galloping behind me.

"Thanks!" I called. "See you later!"

~*~

No one was near the docks when I arrived. I guess no one else was expecting anyone.

I sat on a nearby bench, trying not to jump around too much. I was soooooo excited.

"You're here a little early."

I jumped up and saw Darrell suddenly standing near me. How did he do that, just sneaking up on me like that?

"Yeah, but I couldn't wait a second longer," I grinned, looking at my watch again. "Come on, stupid ferry!"

Darrell sat down next to me. He was wearing all black, of course. Kitsune, who was sitting on my lap, sniffed one of his pockets.

"You want to see Umbreon that bad?" he muttered, taking out one of his weird Pokeballs and letting out Umbreon. Kit squealed in delight and they started running around near us.

It was the first time in my life when I couldn't think of anything to say. I just kept looking at my watch every second, glaring at the docks, wondering when the ferry would appear. Darrell was silent too, but he usually was anyway, so I didn't comment on that.

Finally, finally, finally the ferry appeared on the horizon. I stood up and hopped up and down a little until it sloooooowly made its way to the docks. I jogged over there and stood near it, grinning broadly.

A few people made their way off it, and then a car drove off of it. I wondered if someone else was moving here.

I stopped thinking about it, though, when a certain red-headed person with her hair still in a messy bun, and another certain person with his shirt and pants too baggy and dark brown hair that was getting way too long for him stepped off the ferry.

My friends.

~*~*~

Damnit Steve! Cut your hair! :P

-cough- Anyway, time to become one with my awesomecore reviewers ^.^;;. . .wait, forget that. . .it sounds. . .odd. o.O

Hannah~ That's right, we got enough people predicting the outcome of this –coughMelanicough-. But now you'll get TWO updates every other week! Soon enough for ya? ;D

Hanni~ EEEEEEEEE! And what a Happy New Year surprise ^_^ Welcome back for about two minutes. ;D Wow, thanks for all the compliments. I feel speshul. ^.~ I know what you mean about all these AAML and trainer fics. . .yeah, the first five times to me is okay, after that. . .meh. Hmm, so YOU think you know what's up with Darrell? Well, well, doesn't everyone ~_^ I don't even know what's up with him half the time. . .he's a creepy guy, that. . .Darrell dude.

And don't you press 'B' to stop evolution?

Karania Avalon~ Heavenly, eh? ~.^ Ha ha, fooled you! Kit's an Espeon! ^_^;;

Zero_Chan~ O_O. . .OH GOD! IT'S A GLOW! _ Ha ha, fooled you too! Oh man, I'm good! ^.^ Lurk's got a real reason to read now. . .-wink-

Hrm, is that everyone? –checks- Yup. . .unless my invisible horse wants to review. . .yeah, didja hear? I have an invisible horse. I bought him with my invisible money. :P

Anyway, besides that. . .I guess I better post the chapter now, considering in two hours it won't officially be Friday. . .:-X

Remember. . .see 'ya Tuesday!